A rectifier circuit includes a first, second, third and fourth parasitic diodes electrically connected to form a full-wave diode-bridge rectifier. A first switch and a second switch are connected in parallel, respectively, to the first and second parasitic diodes, and a third switch and a fourth switch connected in parallel, respectively, to the third and fourth parasitic diodes. A first biasing network is configured to drive in conduction the first and second switches, during turning-on of the rectifier circuit, using a first turning-on signal that is a function of the input signal. A second biasing network is configured to close the third and fourth switches, during turning-on of the rectifier circuit, using a second turning-on signal that is a function of the input signal.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A rectifier circuit, comprising: a first and a second diode electrically connected to one another to form a diode rectifier; a first and a second switch connected in parallel, respectively, to the first and second diodes; and a first biasing network coupled to control terminals of the first and second switches and configured to close, during a step of turning-on of the rectifier circuit, the first and second switches by generating a first turning-on signal which is a function of an input signal so as to generate at an output a rectified output signal; wherein the first biasing network comprises: a first charge pump connected to the control terminal of the second switch and configured to receive at an input the first turning-on signal and generate at an output a first intermediate signal that is adapted to close the second switch; and a first resistive element connected to the control terminal of the first switch and configured for biasing, by the first turning-on signal, the control terminal of the first switch.
2. The rectifier circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the first biasing network further comprises a first turning-off circuit coupled to the control terminal of the first switch and to the first charge pump and configured to disable the first biasing network when the output signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
3. A The rectifier circuit, comprising: a first and a second diode electrically connected to one another to form a diode rectifier; a first and a second switch connected in parallel, respectively, to the first and second diode; and a first biasing network coupled to control terminals of the first and second switches and configured to close, during a step of turning-on of the rectifier circuit, the first and second switches by generating a first turning-on signal which is a function of an AC input signal so as to generate at an output a rectified DC output signal; wherein the input signal is an AC signal, and further comprising: a third diode and a fourth diode electrically coupled to the first and second diodes so as to form a full-wave diode-bridge rectifier; a third switch and a fourth switch connected in parallel, respectively, to the third and fourth diodes; and a second biasing network coupled to control terminals of the third and fourth switches and configured to close, during a step of turning-on of the rectifier circuit, the third and fourth switches by generating a second turning-on signal which is a function of the input signal so as to generate at the output the rectified DC output signal.
4. The rectifier circuit according to claim 3 , wherein the first biasing network is configured to close the first and second switches during a negative half-wave of the AC input signal, and the second biasing network is configured to close the third and fourth switches during a positive half-wave of the AC input signal.
5. The rectifier circuit according to claim 3 , wherein the second biasing network comprises: a second charge pump connected to the control terminal of the fourth switch and configured to receive at an input the second turning-on signal and generate at an output a second intermediate signal that is adapted to close the fourth switch; and a second resistive element connected to the control terminal of the second switch and configured to bias, by the second turning-on signal, the control terminal of the second switch.
6. The rectifier circuit according to claim 5 , wherein the second biasing network further comprises a second turning-off circuit coupled to the control terminal of the third switch and to the second charge pump and configured to disable the second biasing network when the output signal exceeds the predetermined threshold value.
7. The rectifier circuit according to claim 5 , wherein the first charge pump comprises: an oscillator configured to receive at an input a signal that is a function of the AC input signal and generate at an output a voltage signal; and at least one capacitor coupled to an output of the oscillator and configured to receive at the input the voltage signal generated by the oscillator.
8. An energy-harvesting system, comprising: a transducer configured to convert energy coming from an energy source into an AC electrical signal; a rectifier circuit configured to receive the AC electrical signal and supply a DC output signal; a first storage element coupled to the rectifier circuit and configured to receive the DC output signal and store electrical energy; wherein the rectifier circuit comprises: a first and a second diode electrically connected to one another to form a diode rectifier; a first and a second switch connected in parallel, respectively, to the first and second diodes; and a first biasing network coupled to control terminals of the first and second switches and configured to close, during a step of turning-on of the rectifier circuit, the first and second switches by generating a first turning-on signal which is a function of the AC electrical signal so as to generate at an output the DC output signal.
9. The system according to claim 8 , further comprising a DC-DC converter connected between the rectifier circuit and an electrical load, said DC-DC converter configured to receive the DC output signal and supply the electrical load via a signal that is a function of the DC output signal.
10. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the first biasing network comprises: a first charge pump connected to the control terminal of the second switch and configured to receive at an input the first turning-on signal and generate at an output a first intermediate signal that is adapted to close the second switch; and a first resistive element connected to the control terminal of the first switch and configured for biasing, by the first turning-on signal, the control terminal of the first switch.
11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the first biasing network further comprises a first turning-off circuit coupled to the control terminal of the first switch and to the first charge pump and configured to disable the first biasing network when the DC output signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
12. The system according to claim 8 , further comprising: a third diode and a fourth diode electrically coupled to the first and second diodes so as to form a full-wave diode-bridge rectifier; a third switch and a fourth switch connected in parallel, respectively, to the third and fourth diodes; and a second biasing network coupled to control terminals of the third and fourth switches and configured to close, during a step of turning-on of the rectifier circuit, the third and fourth switches by generating a second turning-on signal which is a function of the AC electrical input signal so as to generate at the output the rectified DC output signal.
13. An apparatus, comprising: a vehicle including an energy-harvesting system, wherein the energy harvesting system comprises: a transducer configured to convert energy coming from an energy source into an AC electrical signal; a rectifier circuit configured to receive the AC electrical signal and supply a DC output signal; a first storage element coupled to the rectifier circuit and configured to receive the DC output signal and store electrical energy; wherein the rectifier circuit comprises: a first and a second diode electrically connected to one another to form a diode rectifier; a first and a second switch connected in parallel, respectively, to the first and second diodes; and a first biasing network coupled to control terminals of the first and second switches and configured to close, during a step of turning-on of the rectifier circuit, the first and second switches by generating a first turning-on signal which is a function of the AC electrical signal so as to generate at an output the DC output signal.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said transducer is chosen in the group comprising: electrochemical transducer, electromechanical transducer, electroacoustic transducer, electromagnetic transducer, photoelectric transducer, electrostatic transducer, thermoelectrical transducer.
15. The apparatus according to claim 13 , further comprising a DC-DC converter connected between the rectifier circuit and an electrical load, said DC-DC converter configured to receive the DC output signal and supply the electrical load via a signal that is a function of the DC output signal.
16. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the first biasing network comprises: a first charge pump connected to the control terminal of the second switch and configured to receive at an input the first turning-on signal and generate at an output a first intermediate signal that is adapted to close the second switch; and a first resistive element connected to the control terminal of the first switch and configured for biasing, by the first turning-on signal, the control terminal of the first switch.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the first biasing network further comprises a first turning-off circuit coupled to the control terminal of the first switch and to the first charge pump and configured to disable the first biasing network when the DC output signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
18. The apparatus according to claim 13 , further comprising: a third diode and a fourth diode electrically coupled to the first and second diodes so as to form a full-wave diode-bridge rectifier; a third switch and a fourth switch connected in parallel, respectively, to the third and fourth diodes; and a second biasing network coupled to control terminals of the third and fourth switches and configured to close, during a step of turning-on of the rectifier circuit, the third and fourth switches by generating a second turning-on signal which is a function of the AC electrical input signal so as to generate at the output the rectified DC output signal.
19. A circuit, comprising: a first and second input node configured to receive a AC source; a first transistor coupled between the first input node and a reference node and having a first control terminal coupled through a first biasing resistance to the second input node; a second transistor coupled between the second input node and the reference node and having a second control terminal coupled through a second biasing resistance to the first input node; a third transistor coupled between the first input node and an output node and having a third control terminal; a fourth transistor coupled between the second input node and the output node and having a fourth control terminal; a first charge pump circuit having a supply input coupled to the first input node and configured to generate a first control signal for application to the third control terminal of the third transistor; and a second charge pump circuit having a supply input coupled to the second input node and configured to generate a second control signal for application to the fourth control terminal of the fourth transistor.
20. The circuit of claim 19 , further comprising: a first switch in series with the first biasing resistance and configured to selectively couple the first control terminal to the second input node; and a second switch in series with the second biasing resistance and configured to selectively couple the second control terminal to the first input node.
21. The circuit of claim 20 , further comprising a comparator circuit having an input configured to sense a voltage at the output node for comparison to a threshold, and having an output configured to supply a control signal that actuates the first and second switches.
22. The circuit of claim 20 , further comprising: a third switch configured to selectively couple the third control terminal to the first input node; and a fourth switch configured to selectively couple the fourth control terminal to the first input node.
23. The circuit of claim 22 , further comprising a comparator circuit having an input configured to sense a voltage at the output node for comparison to a threshold, and having an output configured to supply a control signal that actuates the third and fourth switches.
24. The rectifier circuit according to claim 1 , further comprising: a third diode and a fourth diode electrically coupled to the first and second diodes so as to form a full-wave diode-bridge rectifier; a third switch and a fourth switch connected in parallel, respectively, to the third and fourth diodes; and a second biasing network coupled to control terminals of the third and fourth switches and configured to close, during a step of turning-on of the rectifier circuit, the third and fourth switches by generating a second turning-on signal which is a function of the input signal so as to generate at the output the rectified output signal.
25. The rectifier circuit according to claim 24 , wherein the first biasing network is configured to close the first and second switches during a negative half-wave of the input signal, and the second biasing network is configured to close the third and fourth switches during a positive half-wave of the input signal.
26. The rectifier circuit according to claim 24 , wherein the second biasing network comprises: a second charge pump connected to the control terminal of the fourth switch and configured to receive at an input the second turning-on signal and generate at an output a second intermediate signal that is adapted to close the fourth switch; and a second resistive element connected to the control terminal of the second switch and configured to bias, by the second turning-on signal, the control terminal of the second switch.
27. The rectifier circuit according to claim 26 , wherein the second biasing network further comprises a second turning-off circuit coupled to the control terminal of the third switch and to the second charge pump and configured to disable the second biasing network when the output signal exceeds the predetermined threshold value.
28. The rectifier circuit according to claim 26 , wherein the first charge pump comprises: an oscillator configured to receive at an input a signal that is a function of the AC input signal and generate at an output a voltage signal; and at least one capacitor coupled to an output of the oscillator and configured to receive at the input the voltage signal generated by the oscillator.
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April 26, 2012
October 13, 2015
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